ST. LOUIS (AP) — Jon Jay hit an RBI single with two outs in the eighth inning to break a tie and lead St. Louis over Boston, 3-2.
The Cardinals won their third in a row and fourth in the last five. Boston has lost three in a row.
Jay, who missed the previous five games with a wrist injury, blooped a hit to left off reliever Junichi Tazawa (1-3) to bring in former Red Sox player A.J. Pierzynski with the winning run.
Pat Neshek (5-0) earned the win by striking out the side in the eighth. Trevor Rosenthal recorded his NL-leading 35th save in 39 chances.
Boston beat St. Louis in six games in last year’s World Series.
St. Louis starter Lance Lynn gave up two runs on four hits over seven innings. Boston starter Rubby De La Rosa surrendered one run on six hits over six innings.
Kolten Wong tied the game 2-all with a two-out RBI single in the seventh off reliever Tommy Layne.